Whose authority do you recognize?

An English literature class was made up of hard-working family men and women who were attending college classes at night in order to complete their degrees. The professor, who also taught in the day school, complimented the adults on their hard work and dedication. “I hold you up to my day students, telling them how you adults work hard all day and still get better grades than they do.” One businessman spoke up, “Oh I wouldn‟t be too hard on them, Professor. After all, they take their report cards home to understanding parents. We have to face our kids!” St. Mark writes in this weekend‟s Gospel that the people marveled at how Jesus taught with a spirit of “authority.” Real authority comes, not from the power to enforce, but from the ability to inspire. In God‟s reign, the poor saint who gives his or her last dollar to feed society‟s forgotten, speaks with an authority far more compelling than the corporate executive who writes a check for an amount that he or she will never miss. The ordinary Christian who struggles to take the Gospel to heart in his or her every day life possesses an authority far more affecting than the learned theologian who can write volumes about the fine theoretical dimensions of the Gospel text. Jesus‟ teachings about love and forgiveness, about generosity and justice, were grounded in his actions of giving, compassion and healing! Whose authority do you recognize? Martha Stewart's? MTV's? The New York Times‟? The Pope‟s? Where does Jesus fit into your hierarchy of those whose words and examples help you define your values? Think about it!